Wild brown trout fishing Scotland query?

[sauer]

I’m not really a fly fisherman .. I can tie a fly on and thrash water with best of em on a stocked trout ponds …
Recently found a channel on YouTube
“Southside Flyfishing”
Where gent goes into wilds on small lochans etc ….
My query … this really appeals … what’s legality of this ? Surely need permission or permits ?
And as an aside what size / weight gear folk using for this ?
Cheers
Paul

 

[enfieldspares]

I've a belief that it is free to all comers. I don't know why I have this belief BTW. It may be one of those things like London hackney cabs having to carry a bale or hay. It maybe was once true. I don't know. I'd ask one of the angling organisations. As to gear? A light line, maybe double taper slow sinker, say a Wet 1 but for sure a double taper suitable for roll casting and the fly? Probably a #5 on something 9' or less? Well whatever seems to be the main insect you see in the lochan. Be it emerger or something else.

 

[levigsp]

You need permission from one of the riparian owners. Often you will find one estate own the fishing on several lochs or lochans, that makes life a lot easier.

 

[opticron1]

As it's not too far away from you, try the lochs out of the Glen Clova Hotel - they've also got fishing on the South Esk, but that's a bit more expensive (and water dependent). They have one stocked loch and one wild one (Loch Brandy - which is a bit of a hike up the hill). I use the same gear that I would use on a stocked loch/pond/lake, but lighter nylon - maybe 3 or 4lb breaking strain and the usual loch flies - especially bushy black ones. It can get a bit breezy up high, so a 5 or 6 weight rod should be fine.
Most lochs have either a riparian owner or come under a protection order, but hill loch fishing is pretty cheap and cheerful. If you want a bit of real adventure have a look at the hill lochs around Assynt!
@caorach has some great videos and the Western Isles are always a good excuse to book a fishing ....ooops sorry.....family holiday!

 

[Stalker62]

You need permission from one of the riparian owners.

'If you own land or property next to a river, stream or ditch you are a riparian landowner.'

 

[Caberfeidh]

Hopefully the link will work as it’s a good read if you would like to try the hill lochs in Assynt:

https://www.assyntanglinginfo.org.uk/files/Angling_in_Assynt_A_Guide_for_Visitors.pdf

 

[Mossypaw]

If it’s not a stank or stocked, fish away (bank only) until your told different !

 

[Stalker62]

If it’s not a stank or stocked, fish away (bank only) until your told different !

Stank?

I could hazard a guess...

 

[VSS]

'If you own land or property next to a river, stream or ditch you are a riparian landowner.'

Not the same as being able to fish there, I don't think.
Fishing rights can be retained by a previous landowner, just as shooting rights can, so owning the land or property alongside the watercourse doesn't necessarily make you the owner of the fishing rights. Only the owner of the fishing rights could give someone permission to fish the stretch of water.

 

[Kalahari]

In Scotland it is more difficult to separate sporting rights from land ownership.

David.

 

[Stalker62]

Not the same as being able to fish there, I don't think.

Ownership of fishing rights

The presumption is, as set out above, that the owner of land adjoining a non-tidal river or stream also owns the bed of the river to the middle line, so unless that presumption has been rebutted, a riparian owner has the sole right to fish in the water within their boundary.

 

[VSS]

Ownership of fishing rights

The presumption is, as set out above, that the owner of land adjoining a non-tidal river or stream also owns the bed of the river to the middle line, so unless that presumption has been rebutted, a riparian owner has the sole right to fish in the water within their boundary.

Yes, unless the title deeds to the land state otherwise, that presumption stands. But the title deeds often do state otherwise, particularly in situations where the land was once part of a larger estate which has been broken up and sold off. The fishing rights and sporting rights are often retained by the original estate owners or sold separately.

 

[Mossypaw]

Stank?

I could hazard a guess...

A stank is an enclosed body of water with no natural inlet or outlet, like a fish pond, where the fish can not be said to live in a natural state.

 

[tattie]

Stank?

I could hazard a guess...

Stank, as I understand is a naturally occurring body of water without a recognised flow in or out.

 

[Stalker62]

A stank is an enclosed body of water with no natural inlet or outlet, like a fish pond, where the fish can not be said to live in a natural state.

OK, well I would have been way off!

I was going with stagnant (which may sort of be right)... with the etymology of the word.

 

[tattie]

Beat me to it.

 

[tattie]

A good read with all the information you would need is

" The Law of Game, Salmon & Freshwater Fishing in Scotland" by Stanley Scott Robinson

As a lad, and later on in life I have always fished freshwater lochs without any bother and if signs indicate stocked or club facilities I have as a matter of course found out where and how to look for permission.

No point in ****ing folk off.

A different story where migratory fish such as salmon and sea trout are present and in that case I would be looking for permission first.

Cheers

 

[NoIDeer]

Go in the local hunting, shooting, fishing, hardware, bakers... shop and ask. Someone will have the rights to the local loch you have just driven past and one of the shops will sell you a day ticket for not a lot of money. Don't forget your landing net, did I tell you about the one that got away.
You don't need a rod or game licence in Scotland if you are not targeting sea trout or salmon btw

 

[opticron1]

OK, well I would have been way off!

I was going with stagnant (which may sort of be right)... with the etymology of the word.

Hence, that's why we call moorhens "stankies" ....... cause that's where we usually find them!

 

[Sealgair nam fiadh]

Salmon and Sea trout ( migratory fish ) it is a criminal offence to fish for them without " legal right or permission".
Brown trout, you should seek permission from whoever has the rights to them.
However it's a Civil offence unless the water is covered by a Protection Order.
The fishing rights for Salmon and Sea trout can be held by someone different from the person holding the rights for Brown trout.